Stamp affixing machine



Dec. 29, 1931. KEISER 1,838,841

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v HFW l fflser 744k ATTOR N EY Dec. 29, 1931. A. J. KEISER STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY JVif/Jinwa 7:43 ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. A. J. KEISER 1,838,841

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Eiled 001;. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 72a; ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. l KElSER 1,838,841

I STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Y flpzw r/. Kidder KAY ATTOR N EY Dec. 29, 1931. KElSER 1,838,841

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 1m ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. J E s 1,838,841 I S TAMP AFFIXIN G MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ml; ATTORNEY Deg. 29, 1931. A. J. KEISER STAMP AFFIXI NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 SheetsSheet 7 BY W7 7 3 ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. J, KEISER 1,838,841

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNVENTOR 51 W 7 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1931 iimrso s'mrss rarest m me ARTHUR J'.;KEISER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BIRCHER CO; INCi,

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK a 7 element.

STAMP AFFIXIN G MACHINE The. present invention relates to stamp aifixing machines and an object of the invention is to provide an affixing element which has a stamp-roll carrying member and a feeding-member relatively movable about a common am's to effect vthe feeding of the stamps one at a time to aiiixing position.

Another object of the invention is to pro of pressure created on the envelopes during ,the afixing ofthe stamps to the envelopes.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a novel means offdeflecting 'a'strlp of stamps through a feed openlng in an affixing To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combination of parts all of which will be hereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I p I Fig. lis a plan view of a machine embodyin the present invention V Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. machine;

Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. i is a plan view of the lower casing;

Fig. 5 is a section on the'line 5.5, Fig. 1, with parts removed. Y r

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showingthe stamp strip projected for folding by the folding device; 1

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing the manner in which .the upperrotary element is removably held in position; f

' Fig. 8 is a plan viewof the interior of the machine below the feeding table, parts being broken away Fig. 9 is a detail view of the clutch for controlling the upper rotary element" of the stamp aiiixing machine; a

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3'3,

Fig. 10 isa'detail view of the clutch controlling cam a I Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the envelopes are supported in the stacker;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the envelopes approach the aflixing mechanismfrom the stacker;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View showing the manner in which a stampis affixed to an envelope; a

Fig. 14 is afraginentary view showing the manner in which a stamp is broken from the stamp strip; V

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the upper rotary element of the stamp aflixing' mechanism; V

Fig. 16 is an enlarged axial section through the upper rotary element of the affixing device; 1 l

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section showing the release devicefor the spring finger;

' Fig. 18 is a fragmentary section showing fgether; and

Fig. 23 is a detail end view of the clutch controlling cam.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention 1 indicates a casing which has an open top and bottom, ledges 2 being provided at the rear portion of its upper edge for supporting an upper casing 3 which opens at its bottom to the casing 1. A removable bottom plate 4: closes the bottom of the lower casingp The open top part of the lower casing is closed by a removable feed table '5 which proj ects at one end from one side of the lower casing 1, while a portion of the open front wall is closed by a removable front plate 6 which projects beyond the lower casing to the outer end of the feed table to provide a guide plate. Secured to the feed table on the projecting portion is an inclined rest 7 on which the envelopes to be stamped are stacked, one side of the stack resting against the guide plate 6. Projecting forwardly from the guide plate is a wall or plate 8 with which the forward end of the envelopes in the stack engage, this plate being spaced from the table at its lower edge in order that the envelopes may be fed from the bottom of the stack. For confining the outer edges of the envelopes to the stack, an outer wall or plate 9 is provided which has an inwardly extending portion 10 at its lower edge guided at 11 on the under side of the table 5.

lVith the end in View of retarding the movement of the envelopes in the stack above the bottom one so as to prevent the feed of more than one envelope at a time, the front plate 8 is cut away at 12 and in front of this cut away portion is arranged a retarder comprising, in this instance, a cylinder 13 which is secured by a screw 14 against turning on a rod 15 which is also held against turning by a set screw 16. This cylinder has two smooth circumferential metal surfaces 17 and an interposed circumferential rubber surface 18 which has greater diameter than the metallic surfaces. This rubber surface has a high coefficient of friction and will engage the upper surfaces of the forward ends of the lowermost envelopes due to the face that the lower most envelopes tend to project in advance of the stack thus holding back all of the lowermost envelopes in the stack except the bot tom one which is moved forwardly by the feeding mechanism as will be described. The cylinder 18 while held against turning on the rod 15 may be released from the rod and shifted to present another portion of the rubber surface to effective position when a portion thereof has become worn.

It is preferred to mount the retarder so that it will yield to envelopes of different thicknesses and to this end the rod 15 is resiliently supported as by an arm 19 which is mounted to rock on a shaft 20 journalled in a frame 21 mounted to rock on a shaft 22 which is journalled in the lower casing. A spring 23 is interposed between the upper end of this arm and the upper housing and surrounds a rod 24. which projects through the top of the housing and carries an adjusting nut 25 through which the compression of the spring may be varied.

Mechanism for feeding the envelopes from the bottom of the stack one at a time may comprise a pair of rotary members 26 arranged upon the shaft 22 and each having a smooth concentric peripheral portion 27, and a peripheral portion 28 formed of rubber or other material having a high coefficient of friction. A drop 29 is provided at the rear end of each peripheral portion 27. The outer rotary member has its portion 28 bulged at 29 in rear of the shoulder. The peripheries of the two rotary members (:0- operate with the two smooth surfaces 17 on the retarder, and when peripheral portions 2'5 engage the retarder no feeding of envelopes takes place. After these portions pass the lowest envelope, the forward edge of the envelope drops so that the peripheral portions 28 engage the lowest envelope and project it forward against the shoulders formed by the rear ends of the peripheral portions 27 thus properly positioning the envelope for a feeding action by the peripheral portions 28. The bulge 29'on the outer pcripheral portion 28 tends to shift the envelope toward the rear guide 6 and align the envelope for travel through the machine.

From the feeding mechanism the envelope passes to the stamp affixing mechanism. This mechanism, in this instance, is constructed to feed the envelope during the affixing opration. In this instance, this mechanism embodies two rotary elements cooperating with opposite sides of the envelope. The lower one 80 of these elements is secured t the shaft to turn with the latter, and as said shaft 20 is mounted on the swinging frame 21, the axis of the lower rotary element 30 may move toward and from the axis of the upper rotary element. A spring 31 connect ed to the lower casing 1 and to the swinging member 20 to hold the lower rotary element toward the upper rotary element the upward movement being limited by an adjustable stop 31 carried by the frame 21. The turning of the lower rotary element 30 may be effected by a sprocket chain 32 connecting the shaft 22 with the shaft 20. The greater portion of the periphery of the rotary element 30 is cut away at so as not to engage the periphery of the upper rotary element, but the remaining peripheral portion 3a is concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary element 30 and is unyielding.

The upper rotary element or stamp affixing element is supported on a shaft 3 1 which is journalled at one end in a bearing 35 in the upper casing 3, its rear end having a collar 36 removably secured thereto by a set screw 3'? and abutting a washer 38 on the casing, the washer being pressed toward the collar by a spring 39. Mounted on the shaft is a gear 40 which meshes with a gear ll secured to the shaft 20 so that the upper rotary element is driven from the shaft 22.

With the end in view of turning the upper rotary element or affixing element only when an envelope is passing the stamp affixing means, the gear 40 has a clutch connection with the shaft controlled by the envelopes in passing to the affixing means. In this instance, the gear 40 is mounted to turn relatively to the shaft on a bearing portion 42 and turns between two collars a3 and 44: ;held against turning on the shaft 34. An opening 45 is provided in the gear 40 and into this opening is adapted to lee-projected a clutch pin 46 which is movable longitudinally in the collar 4% and is carried by a slide block A7 mounted eccentrically ofgthe shaft to one side of the collar 44, a spring 48 serving to hold the pin 46 normally toward the gear. -Movement of the slide block 47 against the action of the spring may be effected by a shifter comprising, in this instance, a cam lever49 pivoted at, '50 within the upper casing and normally held toward the cam face 52 of the slide 47 by the spring 51. To this cam lever 49 is connected one end of a link 53, the other end of the link being connected to an end of an arm 54 on a rockshaft .55 j ournalled in the lower housing 1. To the rock shaft 55 is se cured another arm 56 which extends upwardly through the top plate and has a curved portion 57 which lies in the path of the envelopes'as they pass from the stack under the action of the feeding mechanism. This lever is held depressed by an envelope until the envelope has had the stamp affixed thereto when the lever isreleased causing the cam lever 49 to again swing into the path of the slide block 4-7 and release the gear 40 from the shaft 84h so that the upper rotary element stops turning with the gear 40.

The upper rotary-element of the stamp aflixiiig mechanism comprises, in this instance,

from th collar 43. The other feeding member 62 of the rotary afiixing element is also in the form of a cylinder or drum with an open side fitted on the periphery of the roll supporting or carrying part 58 and mounted to turn thereon. The two members 58 and 62 are held together with yielding pressure by two pins 63 which are guided in the closed side of the member-58 and project through curved or a'rcuate slots 64 formed in the side wall of the member 62." Head's G5 on these pins hear on the outer face of 'the side wall of member 62 on opposite sides of the slots and springs .66 surround the pins within the member 58 and act to hold the heads with yielding pressure against the outw 5,

er face of the side wallof the member 58;

The inner or stamp-roll supportlng memher 58 serves as a carrierfor the roll of stamps 67 which has a spool 68 fitted to the bearing 59 of the inner member 58 .of the upper rotary element. On the inner face of; the member 58 is a guide for the stamps comprising a small frame 69 secured by bolts 70130 the side wall of the member in spaced relation to the inner face of the cylindrical wall.- At its receiving end the frame carries at its outer side a finger 71 while its dis charge end is arranged adjacent one side of afeedi-ng slot or opening 72 but in spaced relation to said opening. Supported onthe inner face of the guide by screws 73 is a holding finger 7 3 which is resilient and has its end projecting beyond and cooperates with the adjacent wall of the opening or slot 7 2 so as to deflect the strip ofstamps through the feedingslot. In order to permit the stamps to be inserted in the guide and behind saidfinger, the guide opens laterally and the spring may be moved-away from normal position by a cam 74 on a finger operated shaft Thatjportion of the roll holding member 58 on the opposite side of the slot 72 is vdeflected inwardly at 76 so as to provide a space 77 for the passage-of the strip of stamps between therinner and outer 'members 58 and 62.

The outer or feeding member 62 also has a feed opening 78 in its cylindrical or peripheral portion through which the stamp strip passes and in orderto deflect the stamp strip through this feed opening a movable deflecting device is.v employed. This movable-deflecting device is, in this instance, in the form' of a lever 79 pivoted at 80 to the outermeinber-62 to one side of the opening 78 "and operating in a slot 81 in the inner member 58. The inner side of the lever 79 has a cam surface 82 adapted to be engaged by pins 83 bridging the slot 81 and serving to force the lever 79 outwardly on the relative turning ofthe members 58and 62in one'direction and to permit the lever 7 9 to move inwardly within the lines of the feeding member 82. on the relative turning of the members 58 and62 in the other direction.

- After a stamp has been deflected through the opening 7 8 it is folded on theouter side of the upper rotary ,or affixing element. This is accomplished, in this instance, by rotating the upper rotary aifixingelement of the aiiixing mechanism past a fixed folding device which, in this instance,*comprises the forward edge 8 i of a fixed guide 85 which partially surrounds the upper rotary element being pivot-ally supported at 86 to the upper casing and having its'dewnward'moveinent limited by an adjustable stop 87 car- -:ried thereby and co-operating with the upper casing i The folded or turned stamp passes under the guide 85 toahmoistening devicewhich, inthis instance, comprises a moistening receptacle 88 pivotally supported at 89 on'the guide plate 6 and carrying an adjustable stop 90 whichrests against an abutment 91 on the frcntplate 8. The receptacle is of L shaped ans formation so as to provide a portion lying between the retarder 18 and the rotary afi'ixin element of the aiiiring mechanism and a portion lying to one side of the retarder 13. The portion between the retarder and the affixing mechanism has a wick 92 projecting from the top thereof over which the folded or turned st; mp is caused to travel in order to moisten the adhesive on the same. A filling opening 93 may be provided in the receptacle and a spring 94 surrounding the pivot may serve to hold the adjustable stop 90 against the abutment 91.

Slior after the stan'ip has been moistened it is rolled on an envelope, which at this time is engaged on its under side by the portion 34. of the lower rotary element 30 and pressed upwardly against the moistened stamp. Before the envelope is engaged by the portion 3% it has been fed between the two rotary elements of the stamp affixing mechanism due to the formation of a space because the lower rotary element is cut away.

As the stamp is being affixed to the envelope it is separated from the strip. This is effected, in this instance, by breaking the strip at the perforated line to separate the stamp being applied from the strip. The separating or breaking device, in this instance, comprises a breaking lever formed from sheet metal and having a body portion 95 resting against the cylindrical outer surface of the member or part 62 to rock or roll thereon. Two flanges 96 project from opposite sides of the body portion to cooperate with opposite sides of the member 62 in order to prevent sidewise movement of the breaking device. A beveled edge 96 of this device lies close to and parallel with the adjacent side of the feed opening 78 in the feeding member 62 so that the folder 84 will fold the stamp strip about the edge of the breaking device at the same time that such folder folds the strip about the adjacent edge of the opening 78. Plungers 97 are rockingly supported at 98 on opposite sides of the beveled edge 96 and project inwardly, being guided loosely in openings in the cylindrical wall of the member 62. Within said member 62 these plungers 97 are surrounded by coil springs 99 which abut against the inner face of the cylindrical wall of the member 62 and also against tension adjusting nuts 100 on said plungers. After the stamp is folded over the breaking device it travels past the moistening device which yields to the breaking device but shortly after the surface 3a on the rotary element 30 is reached, the breaking device begins to rock on the cylindrical surface of the member 62- and about the time the stamp is applied, the beveled edge 96 has separated from the adjacent edge of the opening 7 8 causing a breaking of the aflixed stamp from the stamp strip, the finger 73 and the bend in the strip offering suflicient resistance to the slipping of the strip during the breaking operation. After the breaking of the stamp from the strip, the portion 34 and the member 62 continue to engage the envelope and feed the latter forwardly until it is engaged by the final feeding means to be described hereinafter.

The feeding of the strip of stamps to present a new stamp is effected by speeding up the rotation of the feeding member 62 with reference to the roll carrying member 53. This occurs before the stamp reaches ailixing position, and starts while the stamp to be afiiXed is travelling under the guide 85 which produces sufficient friction on such stamp to hold the strip against movement with reference to the member 68 while it is unrolled from the roll. As a result, the spring holding finger travels backwardly from the opening 78 on a portion of the strip of stamps equal to the width of one stamp and holds this backward position until the moistened stamp is broken from the strip. This speeding up movement of the feeding member 62 is effected, in this in stance, by a se ment of a gear 101 secured to the lower rotary element 30, the radius of this gear segment being greater than that of the gear 41. The gear segment 101 meshes with a gear segment 102 on the outer member 62 of the upper rotary element.

After the stamp has been separated from the strip, the member (32 is retarded in its rotation with reference to the roll carrying member 58 so that the spring finger will push the stamp strip for hardly with reference to the outer member 62 in order to project another stamp through the opening T9 for folding, moistening, afiixing, and breaking. The retarding of the feeding member 62 is effected, in this instance, through a gearing comprising a pinion 103 meshing with the gear 40 and having a pinion 10+l turning therewith and meshing with the segmental 105 on the outer member 62. This segrmental gear is engaged during the period that the upper rotary element of the aiiixingj-j mechanism is travelling from the stamp breaking position to the strip folding position and is at all other times not fur -ionin The upper rotary element or iii ng element of the stamp afiixii'ig mechanism is readily removable for refilling and to this end it is removably held on its shaft 34- by a (letachable plate 106 which carries a manually operable spring pressed plunirger 107 adapted to engage in an annular groove 10S in the shaft 34;.

From the stamp affixing mechanism, the stamped envelopes are fed to a feedin mechanism which. carries the envelopes from t e machine. This feeding mech.v hold of an envelope before it is released by the stamp affixing mechanism and comprises,

in this instance,'.a lower roller109 secured to for operating the machine and is constructed so that the shaft may turnonly in one direc tion. The connection, .in this instance, comprises a sleeve 116 on the handle which is mounted on the end of the shaft 22 and has an enlargement 117 for a spring 7:118," The end wall of the enlargement serves aspen abutment for one endrof the spring and the head 119 of a bolt 120 serves as an abutment for the otherend so that the sleeve is urged away from the headed bolt; A pin 121limits the lateral movement of the sleeve and holds the spring under compression The end of the sleeve abutting this pin 121 and a helical cam surface formed'from its lowest point to its highest point so that when the handle is turnedto move the wall of the notch away from the pin said pin rides up the helical cam and over the notch but when the handle is turned in the opposite direction the notch engages the 7 pin and turns the shaft 22 which by means-of the chain drive 32 drives the shaft 20. V

What I claim asmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: g

1. In a stamp aifixing machine, thecombination with a, rotatably mounted stamp roll carrying member, of a feeding member and rotatable relatively to the roll carrying member about the axis of rotation of the roll carrying member to produce thewfeeding action. I 2. In a stamp affixing machine, the co nbination with a rotatably mounted stamp roll carrying member, of a feeding member mounted to turn on and relatively to the roll carrying member about the axis of rotation of the rollcarrying member, to produce the feeding action. i

3. Ina stamp affixing maohine, the .com bination with a rotatably mounted stamproll carrying member, of a feeding member surrounding the stamp-roll carrying member and having a cylindrical peripher T provided with a feeding openin through which the stamps are fed, said feeding member being mounted to rotate about the axis of rota tion of the roll carrying member relatively to the latter to effect the feeding action.

4. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a stamp-rollcarrying member, and a feeding member rotatable about a common axls and having relative movement about said axis to produce the feeding action. 7

5. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a stamp-roll carrying member, and a stamp feeding member rotatable together about a common axis and also relatively movable about said axis to produce thefeed- Above the r ll r has a seat.

ing action, of means for effecting such relatlve movement during theturning of the m bers oget r i b it e. a is.

. 6. In a stamp afiixi 1. g ma n he mb nation with a stamp-roll carrying member,

and a stamp feeding member rotatable to-- gether about acommon axis and also relatively movable about said axis to produce the feeding action, of means for effecting such relative movement during the turningof the members together about the axis, comprising two mechanisms, 7 tion of the feeding member ahead of the roll carrying member, and the other slowing down the rotation of the feeding member with reference to the roll carrying member.

'3'. A stamp aflixing machine comprising a rotary stamp-rollcarrying drum, and a feeding drum surroundin the stamp-roll carrying drum mounted to turn on the stamp-roll carrying drum about the axis of rotation of the roll carrying drum relatively to the latter ,to produce-a feeding of stamps from' the drum, having a cylindrieal periphery and a feeding opening in the periphery.

8. In a stamp affixing machine, the ecombinationwith a stamp-roll'carrying member, and a' feeding member rotatable together about acommon axis and having relative movement about said axis to producethe feedingaction, of two segmental gears carried by the feeding member, and means cooperating with said gearsduring therotation of the two members together to first advance the feeding member'ahelad of the roll carrying member and thento retard the movement of the feeding member. i

9. In a stamp affixing machine the combinatlon with a the rotation of the roll carrying drum.

10. In a stamp,aflixingmaehinm the combination Witha stampgoll c arrying'means, a rotary drum enclosing'said' roll carrying means and havinga periphery provided with a feedingopening, and a movable deflector arrangedto operate in said feeding opening to deflect a stamp toproject'itvthrough the feeding opening. v I l V 11. In a stamp aflixing machine, thecombination with a stamp-roll carrying drum, of a feeding drum surrounding. the stamp-roll carrying drum, and provided with arfee d opening, the drums being mounted for relative turning movement, to effect the feeding action, and a movable stamp deflectorpivoted to oneside of the feedingopening in the, feeddrum, ,and projecting; into said optning, s

onespeed-ing up the rotabination with a rotary stamp roll carrying drum having a feed opening, of a feeding drum surrounding the rotary roll carrying drum and mounted to turn in opposite directions relatively to the roll carrying drum about the axis of rotation of the roll carrying drum, said feeding drum havin a feed opening, and a yielding finger carried by the roll carrying drum and engaging with the wall of the feed opening of the roll carrying drum to hold the stamp strip toward said opening.

14. In a stamp afiixing machine, the combination with a rotatable stamp-roll carrying drum provided with a feed opening, of a feeding drum surrounding the roll carrying drum and mounted to turn thereon about the the movement of .c its periphery,

aXis of rotation of the roll carrying drum, said feeding drum having a feed opening, a movable deflector pivoted to one side of the feed opening of the feeding drum, and means carried by the roll carrying drum to effect the deflector through the feed opening of the feed drum on the relative movement between the drums in one direction.

15. In a stamp afiixing machine, the combination with a rotary stamp-roll carrying drum having a feed opening in its periphery, of a feeding drum surrounding the stamp'roll carrying drum and having a feed opening in said drums being relatively movable to efiect a feed of the stamp strip through both feed openings.

16. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a drum having a feed opening, a stamp-roll supporting means arranged in said drum, a stamp breaker mounted to one side of feed opening with an edge parallel with an edge of the feed opening, means for folding the strip to cause a portion thereof to overlie the stamp breaker, and means for operating the stamp breaker to cause its edge to move outwardly away from the edge of the feed opening.

17. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a rotary drum having a periphery for engaging one face of an envelope provided with a feeding opening, and means for supporting a roll of stamps in said drum for passage one at a time through the feed opening, of a folding means for folding a portion of the strip on the outer side of the drum during the rotation of the latter, means for separating the folded portion of the strip from the strip, and means cooperating with the face of an envelope opposite the face engaged by the drum to produce pressure on the separating device in order to operate the latter to separate the stamp from the envelope.

18. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with an envelope engaging element having a feed opening, and means for folding a stamp from a strip passed through the feed opening on the outer face of said envelope engaging element, of a separating device for separating the folded portion from the strip, and means cooperating with the opposite face of the envelope to create pressure thereon to actuate the separating device in order to separate the folded portion from the strip.

19. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with two elements between which the envelopes are subjected to pressure from opposite sides, one of said elements having means for feeding stamps one at a time to the envelopes subjected to pressure, of a separating device for separating stamps from the strip one at a time, operated by the pressure between the two elements.

20. In a stamp aflixing machine, an affixing mechanism comprising a rotary element with which the envelopes engage, said element having means for feeding a strip of stamps one at a time to a feeding point, of a separating device carried by said stamp carrying element and engaging the envelope to separate a stamp from the strip as the stamp is applied to the envelope.

21. In a stamp affixing machine, an affixing mechanism comprising an affixing element having a feed opening and a breaker having an edge parallel with the side edge of the feed opening and a portion engaged by an envelope when a stamp is applied thereto, means for feeding a strip of stamps one at a time through the feed opening and over the breaker.

ARTHUR J. KEISER. 

